#356 Joe Kent - Susie Wiles, Stephen Miller, Midterms and the AIPAC Problem

Episode of The Shawn Ryan Show · November 12, 2026 · 2 h 15 min

Former counterterrorism chief Joe Kent tells Shawn Ryan how the Iran war, the Israel lobby and White House insularity drove the Republicans' 2026 midterm defeat.

Summary

Shawn Ryan hosted Joe Kent for his third appearance, shortly after the November 2026 midterm elections. Ryan described himself as politically homeless and distrustful of politicians. Kent argued that Trump voters turned out in large numbers but voted against Republicans out of a sense of betrayal, chiefly over the Iran war and the resulting fuel price spikes after the Strait of Hormuz was disrupted.

Kent criticized former chief of staff Susie Wiles, saying she gave pro-Israel and corporate lobbyists privileged access to Trump and fostered a culture where bad news could not reach the president. He recounted an Oval Office briefing in which he noted that intelligence on Iran came entirely from Israel, after which he was told he would not be needed at the next briefing. He also criticized CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as AIPAC-backed figures, and warned about provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act and the Intelligence Authorization Act that he said would give Israel deep access to U.S. defense and intelligence programs.

On strategy, Kent advocated declaring victory and withdrawing from the Iran conflict, lifting the blockade and letting Iran and the Gulf states negotiate Strait of Hormuz transit fees. He argued that the war had shattered the Gulf security arrangement underpinning the petrodollar and benefited China. He outlined his view of Israel's regional aims, from Iraq and Syria to a possible future confrontation with Turkey.

The pair discussed the 2028 outlook. Ryan doubted that any Republican could win; Kent said the party could still recover by rejecting foreign wars and the Israel lobby and by embracing economic populism. Kent expressed cautious optimism about Stephen Miller's influence, discussed ballot-access barriers facing third parties, and said he is writing a memoir and policy book now under Defense Department review.

Chapters

  1. 2:36

    Welcome and political disillusionment

    Ryan welcomes Kent back and describes losing faith in politicians across the spectrum.

  2. 6:25

    Midterms as a voter revolt

    Kent argues that MAGA voters turned out to vote against Trump over the Iran war and rising prices.

  3. 14:41

    Susie Wiles and the lobbyists

    Kent describes Wiles's lobbying background and her role in letting pro-Israel and corporate donors shape White House access.

  4. 20:32

    Conduct of the Iran war and the failed MOU

    Kent recounts how the June memorandum of understanding collapsed and recommends withdrawal.

  5. 26:54

    Gulf security, the petrodollar and China

    The pair discuss the collapse of the Gulf security arrangement, threats to the petrodollar and China's restrained role.

  6. 52:17

    Prospects for a deal with Iran

    Kent explains why he believes Iran cannot accept a deal now and how a U.S. withdrawal could reopen the Strait.

  7. Linked moment · 1:04:15Skip to 1:04:15 using a listen link in the info box.

    1:04:15

    Israel's regional strategy

    Kent outlines his view of Israel's aims in Iraq, Syria, Gaza, Lebanon and a possible confrontation with Turkey.

  8. 1:18:34

    NDAA provisions and Israel lobby influence

    Kent warns about NDAA Section 219 and an intelligence bill provision, and says JD Vance should push to strip them.

  9. 1:22:28

    2028 outlook and the populist coalition

    Ryan doubts Republican chances in 2028 while Kent argues the party could recover by rejecting foreign wars.

  10. 1:35:12

    White House culture, Ratcliffe and the intelligence community

    Kent recounts being sidelined after flagging Israeli-sourced intelligence and criticizes Ratcliffe's record.

  11. 1:47:02

    Party messaging and third-party barriers

    The pair discuss Republican Islamism messaging, the two-party system and ballot-access hurdles for independents.

  12. 2:01:43

    Stephen Miller, China and accountability

    Kent weighs Stephen Miller's potential influence, discusses Chinese espionage and his upcoming book.

Key points

What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.

  • Joe Kent

    Kent argues the Democrats did not win the midterms on their own merits but benefited from Trump voters' sense of betrayal.

    “I don't think the Democrats won that race. I think the Democrats were the, they benefited from the betrayal that Trump voters felt”

    Listen from 6:31 · 2026 United States midterm elections

  • Joe Kent

    Kent says Susie Wiles prioritized pro-Israel voices over U.S. intelligence officials in access to Trump.

    “she definitely prioritized letting in a lot of the pro-Israel voices to get time in front of President Trump”

    Listen from 15:40 · Israel lobby in the United States

  • Joe Kent

    Kent recommends that the U.S. end the blockade and withdraw its troops from the region.

    “This is why I've been recommending for us just to simply walk away, pull out the blockade, pull our troops out of the region”

    Listen from 24:12 · United States war with Iran

  • Joe Kent

    Kent says Gulf states such as the UAE and Qatar are secretly paying Iran to get their oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

    “the Emiratis, the Qataris and others that are there. paying the Iranians under the table so they can get their oil out of the Strait of Hormuz”

    Listen from 27:09 · Strait of Hormuz

  • Joe Kent

    Kent argues China chose not to exploit the crisis, drawing on its own reserves to keep oil prices lower.

    “They opted to draw on their own strategic petroleum reserves, which actually kept the price of Brent relatively low, even though it spiked”

    Listen from 42:14 · Petrodollar system

  • Joe Kent

    Kent believes Iran cannot agree to a deal under current circumstances after the U.S. killed its leaders and negotiators.

    “I don't believe under the current circumstances we're gonna get a deal. Because I don't think the Iranians can give us a deal”

    Listen from 54:23 · United States war with Iran

  • Joe Kent

    Kent expects Iran to charge transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz to recoup war damages.

    “I think the Iranians, in order to get some money back in their pocket for all the damages that have been inflicted, I think they are going to charge something”

    Listen from 55:39 · Strait of Hormuz

  • Joe Kent

    Kent claims Section 219 of the pending NDAA would give Israel broad access to sensitive U.S. defense programs.

    “there's Section 219 that basically gives the Israelis unfettered access to some of our most sensitive programs”

    Listen from 1:19:13 · National Defense Authorization Act

  • Joe Kent

    Kent argues Republicans can recapture the populist coalition by rejecting foreign wars as unconservative.

    “there's nothing conservative whatsoever about starting another foreign war”

    Listen from 1:26:05 · 2028 United States presidential election

  • Shawn RyanPrediction · due Nov 2028

    Ryan predicts that no Republican can win the 2028 presidential election.

    “I don't think there's even a possibility that a Republican could get elected as president of the United States in 28”

    Listen from 1:29:38 · 2028 United States presidential election

  • Joe Kent

    Kent says Wiles created a White House culture in which bad news and friction were not allowed in front of the president.

    “She created a culture in which bringing the president any bad news or having any friction in front of the president was not allowed”

    Listen from 1:36:54 · Israel lobby in the United States

  • Joe Kent

    Kent recounts telling Trump in an Oval Office briefing that intelligence on Iran came entirely from Israel and could not be independently verified.

    “all of that information on this topic about the Iranians, it all comes from the Israelis. And we don't have a lot of ways to independently verify it”

    Listen from 1:37:24 · United States war with Iran

  • Joe Kent

    Kent says he was excluded from subsequent intelligence briefings after challenging the sourcing of the Iran intelligence.

    “I was promptly told as I left the Oval Office that day that, hey, we're not going to need you at the next intelligence report”

    Listen from 1:38:34 · Central Intelligence Agency

  • Joe Kent

    Kent asserts AIPAC was key to John Ratcliffe's congressional campaigns and his appointment as CIA director.

    “AIPAC was key to Ratcliffe's campaigns when he was in the House”

    Listen from 1:42:35 · American Israel Public Affairs Committee

  • Joe Kent

    Kent argues Republicans' Sharia-law messaging was fearmongering that failed with voters.

    “they drummed up this Sharia law, Islamo-communism nonsense just to fearmonger people”

    Listen from 1:48:51 · 2026 United States midterm elections

  • Joe Kent

    Kent believes independent candidates would win widely if they could get on the ballot, but says ballot-access rules block them.

    “if you could put independents on the ballot, I think independents would win up and down ticket”

    Listen from 1:52:08 · Third parties in the United States

  • Joe Kent

    Kent says Stephen Miller knew going into the Iran war that it was a bad idea, and that Trump should listen to Miller to turn things around.

    “I know that he knew going into the Iran war that this was bad”

    Listen from 2:01:46 · United States war with Iran

  • Joe Kent

    Kent argues the U.S. should spend money on domestic semiconductor production rather than on weapons for Taiwan.

    “Why don't we just spend that money on developing our own ability to build semiconductors and chips here in America?”

    Listen from 2:07:17

  • Shawn Ryan

    Ryan says he feels guilty for giving politicians who misled the public access to his large audience.

    “I feel so fucking guilty for giving these guys access to millions of people”

    Listen from 2:08:44

  • Joe Kent

    Kent says his forthcoming memoir and policy book is undergoing Defense Department redaction review.

    “It's with the Department of Defense and all that now for redactions”

    Listen from 2:14:01

People

In the conversation

  • Shawn RyanFormer U.S. Navy SEAL and CIA contractor, host of the Shawn Ryan Show
  • Joe KentFormer U.S. official who resigned and disputed stated motives for the Iran conflict

Discussed

  • Susie WilesWhite House chief of staff
  • Stephen MillerWhite House deputy chief of staff and architect of the administration's immigration agenda
  • Donald TrumpPresident of the United States whose conduct of the Iran war is the episode's main subject
  • JD VanceVice President of the United States
  • Marco RubioU.S. Secretary of State who defended the Iran campaign at a cabinet meeting
  • John RatcliffeFormer Director of National Intelligence and CIA director under Trump
  • Tulsi GabbardDirector of National Intelligence
  • Benjamin NetanyahuPrime Minister of Israel
  • Pete HegsethU.S. Secretary of Defense overseeing the Iran campaign
  • Laura LoomerAmerican right-wing activist said to have met Ukraine's Chabad chief rabbi
  • Miriam AdelsonIsrael-first megadonor said to own an Israeli newspaper that ran a hit piece on Vance
  • Ahmed al-SharaaPresident of Syria and former HTS leader
  • Qasem SoleimaniIranian Quds Force commander killed in a 2020 U.S. strike
  • Michael FlynnRetired general and former national security adviser
  • Abdul El-SayedDemocratic Senate nominee in Michigan
  • Jensen HuangNvidia CEO who described GPUs as fungible, durable revenue-generating assets
  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr.Health secretary whose appointment Jesse Kelly cited as coalition-building
  • Shannon KentU.S. Navy senior chief petty officer and Joe Kent's late wife, killed in Syria in 2019

Topics

More from The Shawn Ryan Show

From the publisher

Joe Kent is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces veteran, former CIA paramilitary officer, and former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center who resigned in March 2026 over his opposition to the Iran war. An Oregon native and Norwich University graduate in Strategic Defense Analysis, he served 20 years in the Army, completed 11 combat deployments, and earned six Bronze Stars before retiring in 2018 and joining the CIA’s Special Activities Center. His military service included assignments with the 75th Ranger Regiment, Army Special Forces, and U.S. Army Special Operations Command. In 2019, his wife, Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon Kent, was killed in a suicide bombing while serving in Syria. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: Privacy Isn't Paranoia. It's Protection. Download Glacier Today - https://theglacierapp.com If you have an iPhone, go to https://ladder.fit/SRS to take a quick quiz, get matched with your coach, and get a free 7-day trial (no credit card needed) plus $10 off your first month if you join. Go to https://babbel.com/SRS to start learning a new language today and save up to 60%. Rules and restrictions may apply. For a limited time, visit https://drinkag1.com/srs to get a FREE Immune Support Bundle, including Omega-3 Fish Oil and Vitamin D3+K2, with your first subscription of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro. Joe Kent Links: X - https://x.com/joekent16jan19 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on November 13, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: Politics·News Commentary·Government